WCBS 880 Exclusive: Dolan Reveals More Details About Pope Francis' NYC Visit
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- As the city gears up for the pope's visit next week, Cardinal Timothy Dolan sat down with WCBS 880's Rich Lamb to discuss security and how the pope will get around town.
If you see the papal motorcade next week, don't look for the biggest vehicle to spot the pontiff. Dolan revealed that other when Pope Francis is in the popemobile, he'll be riding around Manhattan in a Fiat, not the usual limousines or SUVs reserved for heads of state.
"He is going to travel in a Fiat that thank God, is not a compact, it is a mid-size Fiat that was given as a gift. I hear there's one in D.C., there's one in Philly, there's one in here," Dolan told Lamb in an exclusive interview.
The Holy Father will be in the Fiat except for the slow rides down Fifth Avenue and through Central Park, when he will stand in the back of his popemobile, which Dolan described as "a Jeep that will be totally open."
WEB EXTRA: Guide To Pope Francis' Visit To NYC
The pope wants to be as close to and see as many people as is possible for the eight-block ride down Fifth Avenue to St. Patrick's Cathedral on Thursday night and the 20-block ride through Central Park the next day, Dolan said.
"A very laudable desire not to be separated from his people by either bulletproof glass or by hundreds of policemen," Dolan said, admitting this raises concerns about security. "There's an equally understandable and appreciated value on the part of our excellent police force and Secret Service that they want to protect the guy."
"I have to say I am concerned, there's a big difference for a believer between concern and worry, we're never supposed to worry cause it's all in God's hands," Dolan said, adding that he's not worried because "the NYPD and the Secret Service are the greatest pros in the world."
Speaking on WCBS 880, Mayor Bill de Blasio also touted security preparations as "absolutely extraordinary."
The pope will be in town as the United Nations General Assembly, bringing together leaders from around the world.
"This is really unprecedented, to have Pope Francis here with more than 170,000 global leaders, we've never had so many leaders in one place at one time," de Blasio said.
Earlier this week, representatives from more than 50 agencies held a table-top training exercise to talk about the specifics of the pope's security during his visit from Sept. 24 to Sept. 26.
"I talked with leaders of the Secret Service and members of the FBI and they are always impressed with what the NYPD brings to the table," de Blasio said. "And they are very appreciative that under the control of Commissioner Bratton there's extraordinary cooperation."
During his brief stay, Francis will address world leaders at the U.N., preside over a service at the 9/11 memorial, participate in the procession through Central Park, visit an East Harlem school and celebrate Mass at Madison Square Garden.
To see a complete schedule of the pope's upcoming visit, click here.
"For plenty of the people who are not Catholic, Pope Francis, I would argue, is the greatest voice of conscience today, and he is leading the global discussion on issues like inequality, poverty and migration," de Blasio said. "To have this voice, this great leader in our presence, I think it's going to uplift the whole city. It's going to inspire people, so all of this effort I am absolutely convinced that its worth it. And I've talked to so many people who are just excited to have the pope with us."
You can watch all of the Pope's events on CBS2 and on CBSNewYork.com.